Tourism Terms and Acronyms

Terms

Account Executive--The person who manages a specific account.

Airline Code--The two-letter alpha or combination alphanumeric code assigned to each airline; airlines also have three-number codes.

Airport Code--The three-letter alpha code assigned to each airport.

Alien--A citizen of a foreign country living in a host country.

All-Inclusive--A tour price that includes air and land arrangements (transportation, accommodations, meals, and sightseeing); also, a resort or cruise with meals, sports, and entertainment activities included for a single price.

Amenity--A complimentary item that adds to a traveler¹s comfort or convenience.

American Plan--A hotel rate that includes three meals-breakfast, lunch, and dinner-but, unless specified, does not include beverages except at breakfast.

APEX--An advance-purchase excursion fare.

Apollo--The Computer Reservations System (CRS) owned jointly by European and U.S. airlines representing the merger of Covia (the parent company of United Airlines¹ Apollo system) and Galileo, a CRS owned by British Airways, Swissair, KLM, US Airways, Alitalia, Air Canada, and Olympic; headquartered in Chicago; also, a god in Roman mythology, the son of Jupiter.

Association of Conference and Events Directors International--The organization of meeting planners working for colleges, universities, and associations, the members of which arrange meetings on university campuses.

Association of Corporate Travel Executives--The trade association of people managing corporate travel programs.

Attraction--A natural or cultural object that encourages travelers to visit.

Availability Pool--The rooms available for sale on a particular date.

Back of the House--The parts of the hotel or restaurant that guests do not see.

Back Office--The department of an organization responsible for accounting, data processing, and management reports.

Back-to-Back--A series of tours or flights in which one group leaves as another group arrives.

Base Fare--An airline fare excluding tax and surcharges.

Bilateral--An agreement or treaty between two countries permitting reciprocal air services.

Blackout Period--A period of peak demand when discount rates are not available.

Block--The number of rooms reserved for one group; to assign space.

Breakage--An estimation of how many people will not show up for something, so that no money is wasted on guarantees for rooms, meals, and sightseeing.

Break-Even-Point--The point at which the cost of a product equals the revenue made from selling the product.

Breakout Session--A small group session within a large meeting.

Bumping--The practice of displacing a confirmed passenger for an unconfirmed passenger with a higher priority.

Cancellation Clause--The contract provision that outlines the penalties to be incurred in the event of a cancellation.

Capacity--The number of airline seats available during a particular time period; maximum number of people allowed in any given area.

Charter--To hire, rent, or lease for temporary use.

Client Profile--The computer record of regular customers.

Close--The completion of a sales transaction as signified by payment or deposit.

Collateral Materials--Anything of secondary importance, such as a brochure used to advertise or promote the principle activity of a company.

Commission--A fee paid to a salesperson for selling a product.

Comp--Complimentary, at no charge.

Concession--A shop, restaurant, bar, or car rental counter located at an airport, on a ship, or at a hotel or attraction.

Concierge--The hotel staff member who assists guests by providing information and specialized services.

Conducted Tour--A prearranged travel program for a group escorted by a guide.

Confidential Tariff--A schedule of wholesale rates distributed in confidence to travel wholesalers and travel agents.

Consolidator--A high-volume ticket seller that contracts with carriers to sell airlines¹ excess inventory at a reduced rate.

Consortium--A privately owned group of incorporated companies.

Continental Breakfast--A light breakfast of coffee, rolls, butter, and jam.

Continental Plan--A hotel rate that includes bed and continental breakfast.

Contract of Common Carriage--The legal obligation of a carrier to provide transportation as promised.

Co-op Advertising--Advertising paid for by retailer and supplier working together.

Cooperative--Membership group travel agencies acting as a joint-stock organization to establish and maintain relationships among members, provide educational resources, and secure volume over-rides.

Corkage--The charge placed on beer, liquor, and wine brought into a hotel but purchased elsewhere.

Corporate Account--The travel agency term for revenue generated from a business account.

Corporate Rate--A discount rate negotiated between a corporation (or other volume purchaser) and a supplier.

Corporate Travel Manager--The person employed by a corporation who supervises the company¹s travel policies.

Courier--Term used for a tour escort internationally.

Custom Tour--A tour which the elements are assembled for the specific travel requirements of an individual client or group.

Cut-off Date--The date by which some action must be taken.

Deadhead--A person traveling on a pass; specifically, an airline crew or crew member in transit; any aircraft, ship, or vehicle in transit without a payload.

Debarkation--The process of getting off a ship, plane or train.

Demographic Segmentation--The research technique of dividing people into groups based on factors such as age, income, and family status to develop products for identified segments.

Demographics--The statistical study of human populations.

Departure Tax--A tax paid when departing from a city or county.

Destination Management Companies--The network of ground operators at a destination.

Direct Billing--The hotel practice of allowing individuals or firms that have established credit to sign for charges and be billed at their office locations.

Discretionary Travel--Unnecessary travel, a trip taken by traveler¹s choice.

Docent--A museum or site guide who works for free or for a small salary.

Driver-Guide--A motor coach driver with the ability and knowledge to act as both tour guide and driver.

Ecotourism--The act of traveling with attention to nature¹s wonders and leaving them as they were found.

Elderhostel--The network of schools, colleges, and universities that sponsors study programs for people 60 years of age or older.

Embarkation--The process of boarding a ship, plane, or train.

Escorted Tour--A prepaid, structured program of sightseeing, meals, and accommodations for a group of people traveling together accompanied by an escort from the beginning to the end of the trip.

Familiarization Trip--Reduced-rate travel offered to travel industry professionals to introduce them to an area, its attractions, hotels, and facilities.

Folio--A form on which all charge transactions incurred by a registered guest are recorded; a hotel¹s master bill detailing group charges.

Foreign Independent Tour (FIT)--A prepaid tour including air, hotel, ground transfers, and pre-arranged sightseeing and guide service for individuals.

Governmental Rates--The rates negotiated by the government directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies; at present, only authorized full-time state and federal employees are eligible for government airfares.

Ground Operator--The organization that handles the land operation of a tour; also known as a destination management company.

Group Inclusive Tour (GIT)--A prepaid tour of specified size, components, features, and value.

Hospitality Suite--A hotel room or suite used for entertainment and small group meetings.

Hosted Bar--Drinks at a function paid for by the host organization.

Inbound Tour Operator--A tour operator that specializes in inbound tourism.

Inbound Tourism--Tourism coming into a country.

Incentive--A trip offered as a prize, reward or bonus, usually for superior sales performance.

Incentive Tour Operator--A tour operator specializing in incentive tours.

Incidentals--The personal items such as dry cleaning, telephone calls, bar bills and miscellaneous items excluded from the price of a tour.

Inclusive Tour--A tour including transportation, hotels, transfers, sightseeing, and meals.

Independent Contractor--A person who is not employed by a company but does work for it.

Infrastructure--Anything that supports travel; the governmental and quasi-governmental machinery that regulates and promotes travel and related industries_in a developing area, the network of utilities needed to support tourism_in a developed area, the entire local transportation, lodging, restaurant, entertainment, and cultural establishment.

Itinerary--The route or proposed route of a journey_schedule.

Junket--A free trip offered to high-rolling gamblers by casino promoters.

Kick-back--Money given to escorts or bus drivers for bringing a group to an attraction.

Land Arrangements--The tour services provided to a client on the ground.

Land Operator--A company or individual providing such services as hotel accommodations, sightseeing, transfers, and other related services, exclusive of transportation to and from a given destination.

Load Factor--The percentage of seats occupied. An airplane with 200 seats carrying 100 passengers is said to have a 50 percent load factor.

Manifest--The official list of names on tour, cruise, or airplane.

Margin--The difference between net cost and selling price.

Market Research--The gathering, recording, and analyzing of information about the travel products people want.

Market Segmentation--The grouping of consumers who share common needs.

Marketing--The group of interrelated individuals or organizations that direct the flow of a supplier¹s products to consumers.

Master Bill--The credit established in a principal¹s name so that the room, tax, and incidentals can be billed to a master account.

Meeting Planner--A person who specializes in planning meetings and conventions.

Net Net--The cost of a travel program excluding markups and commissions.

Net Rate--A rate without markup.

Niche Marketing--The direction of sales efforts to a narrow target market.

Noncommissionable--No percentage of the price is paid to the seller by the supplier.

Nondiscretionary Travel--Travel taken by necessity.

No-show--A person who makes a reservation but does not show up to use it.

Occupancy Rate--The percentage of total rooms occupied.

Off-Peak--A period or season when traffic volume or occupancy is not heavy.

Optional--A tour activity for an additional charge that tour participants have the choice of taking or not taking

Over-ride--An additional commission paid as a bonus for productivity or volume or as an incentive to book particular arrangements.

Package Tours--A prepaid travel arrangement that includes transportation, accommodations, and at least one other component such as meals, transfers, sightseeing, or car rental, that is sold for a single all-inclusive price.

Peak--Those periods or seasons when a supplier¹s or destination¹s volume is heaviest.

Per Diem--Average daily cost.

Porterage--Gratuities for a baggage-handling service.

Preferred Supplier--A vendor with whom an agency has committed to provide a high percentage of market share through a proactive sales effort.

Pre-and Post-trip Tours--The optional extension or side trips offered before or after a tour or meeting.

Prix Fixe--The set price on a menu with limited choice.

Rack Rate--The official posted rate for a hotel room.

Receptive Operator--A tour operator or travel agent who specializes in services for incoming visitors.

Repositioning Cruise--A voyage designated by a ship line to move a ship from one cruising area to another.

Revenue Passenger Mile--One paying passenger carried one mile_a statistical unit of the airline industry.

Room Inventory--The number of rooms in a lodging facility that could theoretically be sold on a given date.

Run-of-the-House Rate--A flat rate offered to a group by a hotel.

Shore Excursion--An extra-cost trip offered to passengers at a cruise ship¹s port of call.

Single Supplement--The additional price paid by a person traveling alone for single occupancy of a room or cabin on a tour or a cruise.

Slippage--The loss of income due to employee theft.

Soft Opening--The time when a hotel is open for business prior to the official grand opening.

Special-Interest Tour--A tour designed for clients sharing curiosity or concern about a common subject.

Spouse Program--A program of sightseeing or special events planned for spouses during a meeting.

Stand-by--A discount fare for travelers willing to risk being bumped if the plane is filled with travelers paying higher fares.

Step-on Guide--A guide who boards the motorcoach to give the city tour.

Surcharge--An additional sum added to a price either at certain times of the year or during exceptional circumstances.

Tour Operator--The company that puts together the components of a tour for sale to the public and operates the tour.

Tour Wholesaler--The company responsible for selling tour operators¹ product; a tour operator.

Tourist Board--An official representative of a country with responsibility to market that country¹s attractions to inbound tourists and trade; also known as a governmental tourist office.

Trade Discount--A discounted rate available to qualified individuals working full-time in the travel industry.-

Travel Advisories--The warnings issued by the State Department when countries are experiencing situations that could have serious consequences for travelers, such as physical dangers, unexpected arrests or detentions, or major health hazards.

Voucher--A document issued by tour operators and travel agents to be exchanged for accommodations, meals, sightseeing, or other services.

Wait List--A list of passengers awaiting confirmation.

Walk--The practice of sending a hotel guest holding a confirmed reservation to another facility because of overbooking.

Wholesaler--A travel company that creates and markets tours and foreign independent tours for sale through travel agents.

Yield--The average amount of revenue earned per airline passenger mile.

Yield Management--The management of revenue to produce the most profit.

Acronyms

ADA--Americans with Disabilities Act.

APIS--Advance Passenger Information System: the system whereby airlines transmit passengers¹ passport data obtained at check-in to the customs service at a gateway city for prelanding clearance.

ATPCO--Airline Tariff Publishing Company: the company that transmits fare data from an airline to CRS.

ARC--Airlines Reporting Corporation: the independent corporation owned by the airlines responsible for administering the agency ticket remittance program.

ATA--Air Transport Association: the Washington, D.C. & based trade association that represents the major U.S. and Canadian airlines.

AAA--American Automobile Association: the organization that provides its members with services relating to owning and operating automobiles, such as travel information, highway and legal services, and insurance. The AAA also operates as a full-service travel agency.

ABA--American Bus Association: the trade association representing intercity and charter bus companies.

AH&LA--American Hotel and Lodging Association: the federation of lodging industry associations representing hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

ASAE--American Society of Associations Executives: the organization of paid executives of national, state, and local trade, professional, technical, and business associations.

ASTA--American Society of Travel Agents: a trade association, the principal membership of which includes U.S. travel agencies with allied members drawn from travel suppliers, travel educators, and international affiliates.

ARTA--Association of Retail Travel Agents: the trade association of retail travel agents.

BART--Bay Area Rapid Transit.

CalSAE--California Society of Association Executives: membership of trade and professional associations and societies throughout California.

CalTrans--California Department of Transportation.

CABBI--California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns: statewide organization dedicated to the advancement of the bed & breakfast industry.

CalTIA--California Travel Industry Association: the voice and vision of the travel industry. Statewide association serving as a vehicle to provide a united voice in support of California¹s diverse travel industry.

CBA--California Bus Association.

CDP&R--California Department of Parks & Recreation: state entity providing for the health, inspiration, and education to Californians, preserving our biological diversity, protecting its natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality out-door recreation.

CHP--California Highway Patrol.

CH&LA--California Hotel & Lodging Association: statewide organization, serving the needs of California¹s lodging industry in governmental affairs, education and training, group buying programs, member¹s services, and public relations.

CLIA--California Lodging Industry Association: independent state trade association in California specializing in the needs of independent owner/operators of all types of lodging facilities.

CLIA--Cruise Lines International Association: the trade association of cruise lines that appoints travel agencies to sell cruises and receive commission on behalf of its member cruise lines.

CLM--California Land Management: outdoor recreation Management Company.

CMP--Certified Meeting Professional: the designation awarded to those who qualify by experience and expertise in the planning and execution of meetings.

CPC--The California Parks Company: Concessionaire operators serving the needs of park visitors, in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies.

CRA--California Restaurant Association: statewide trade association representing the restaurant and food service industry.

CRS--Computer Reservation System: an electronic system that links suppliers and distributors to a centralized database for the purpose of making reservations.

CSIA--California Ski Industry Association: nonprofit association representing the state¹s alpine and cross country resorts.

CSP--California State Parks.

CTC--Certified Travel Counselor: the designation awarded by the ICTA to travel professionals who complete an educational program and have five years of industry experience.

CTP--Certified Tour Professional: the designation awarded by the National Tour Association (NTA) to tour professionals with at least two years in the industry who complete an educational program with testing.

CTPA--California Travel Parks Association: representing the campground and RV industry.

CTTC--California Travel & Tourism Commission.

CVB¹s--Convention and Visitors Bureaus: primarily not-for-profit organizations that represent a specific destination such as a city or region. CVBs serve as the "official" contact point for their destination for meeting professionals, tour operators, and individual visitors.

CVTA--Central Valley Tourism Association: promotes California¹s central valley for tours and individual travel.

DOT--Department of Transportation: the U.S. agency established in 1966, headed by cabinet member that is charged with developing and implementing policies to improve and regulate domestic and international transportation facilities and organizations.

GPS--Global Positioning System: the use of satellites to provide automobile drivers with an accurate reading of their location. Installed in premium rental cars.

GTO--Government Tourist Office: the representatives of one country stationed in another to market the country¹s tourism and trade possibilities.

IATA--International Air Transportation Association; International Air Transport Association: the trade association of international airlines offering scheduled services.

JNTO--Japan National Tourism Organization: nonprofit government tourist promotion office, providing tourism information to those planning to visit Japan.

JTOA--Japanese Tour Operators Association: association of Japanese tour operators. Study and develop new tours, new destinations, and security of Japanese visitors to California and the US.

MPI--Meeting Planners International: the professional educational association for corporate and association meeting planners.

MPINCC--Meeting Professionals International, Northern California Chapter: meeting planners and suppliers devoted to increasing knowledge awareness of industry issues, and trends.

MCO--Miscellaneous Charges Order: an accountable document issued by an air or rail carrier or its agent requesting the issue of a ticket or provision of services to the person named in the order.

NBTA--National Business Travel Association: the trade association of people specializing in business travel.

NTA--National Tour Association: the trade association of operators and wholesalers specializing in tours within North America.

NTO--National Tourist Office: an office maintained by a foreign government to promote tourism and provide informational resources.

NTSB--National Transportation Safety Board: the autonomous government agency that develops safety standards for public transportation and investigates accidents.

OCTC--Orange County Tourism Council : develop travel and tourism throughout Orange County.

PNR--Passenger Name Record: the record stored in an airline¹s reservation system detailing reservation and passenger information.

PATA--Pacific Asia Travel Association: the trade association of Pacific nations dedicated to the promotion and education of its member countries.

PNR--Passenger Name Record

PCMA--Professional Convention Management Association: the organization involved in meeting planning for the medical, engineering, scientific, and educational fields.

PTA--Prepaid ticket advice.

RFP--Request for Proposal: a corporation¹s request to an agency that indicates its business travel account is out for bid and the corporation wants the agency to purpose an arrangement.

SATW--Society of American Travel Writers: the professional association of writers, photographers, editors, broadcasters, and public relations representatives whose purpose is to serve the traveling public.

SGMP--Society of Government Meeting Professionals: a nonprofit professional organization of persons involved in planning government meetings, either on a full or part-time basis, and those individuals who supply services to government planners.

SITE--Society of Incentive Travel Executives: the association of travel managers specializing in incentive travel.

SKAL--A social organization of travel industry executives.

STAG--Society of Travel Agents in Government: the association of travel agents specializing in government travel.

STTE--Society of Travel and Tourism Educators: the nonprofit association of travel and tourism educators.

TIA--Travel Industry Association of America: the nonprofit organization representing components of the travel industry, coordinating efforts to encourage and to promote travel to and within the United States.

TTMA--Travel & Tourism Marketing Association: travel and tourism organization, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among professionals from the tourism industry.

USTOA--United States Tour Operators Association: the trade association of tour operators based in the United States and offering tours throughout the world.

VIA--The rail system of Canada.